By Tim Peterson
(Los Angeles) – Utah went on a 28-0 run from the middle of the second quarter into the third and went on to beat USC 42-26 Saturday night before 54,088 at the Coliseum.
The Trojans took a 10-7 lead with 6:02 left in the second quarter on a Kedon Slovis 20-yard touchdown pass to Drake London. Utah then reeled off the next 28 points to go up 35-10 with 9:13 left in the third and the Trojans could never recover.
Slovis had a big game for USC throwing for 401 yards and two touchdowns on 33 of 53 completions with an interception. But it wasn’t enough to derail the Utes who used the big run to quiet the Trojans and the Coliseum crowd.
USC got on the board first on a 28-yard field goal by Parker Lewis with 3:48 left in the first quarter for a 3-0 lead.
Utah showed a sign of things to come as it responded immediately with an eight-play, 75 yard drive. Tight End Brant Kuithe took a handoff and went 11 yards for the touchdown to cap it with 17 seconds left in the first quarter. The Utes were up 7-3 after one.
In the second quarter after a short punt USC needed just six plays to go 50 yards. Slovis hit London on a 20-yard touchdown pass to put the Trojans up 10-7. Then Utah took over.
Utah answered again with a five-play, 75 yard drive. Money Parks (cool name) hauled in a 12-yard pass from Cameron Rising to cap it for a 14-10 lead that they never relinquished.
Utah scored with just 10 seconds left in the first half as Rising hit a wide open Devaughn Vele on 37-yard touchdown pass to finish a 77-yard drive. Utah took a 21-10 lead into halftime.
Utah picked up right where it left off in the first series of the third quarter. The Utes drove 75 yards on five plays. Tavion Thomas rumbled 43 yards to paydirt to put Utah up 28-10 with 12:42 left in the third.
On the next series Slovis was intercepted by Vonte Davis and Utah was in business again at the Trojan 40 yard line. A late hit by London added 15 yards to the return.
Six plays later Rising broke a couple tackles and scampered 17 yards into the end zone and the rout was officially on for Utah at 35-10 mid way through the third quarter.
USC finally broke the spell in the fourth quarter. The Trojans moved the ball 85 yards on nine plays. with Vavae Malepeai capping the drive with a two-yard touchdown run. Slovis hit Tahj Washington over the middle for a two-point conversion to cut the Utes lead to 35-18 with just over 10 minutes left in the fourth quarter.
The Trojans needed a quick stop and a score to have any kind of chance. Instead Utah marched right down the field and scored again. Dalton Kincaid caught a one-yard pass from Rising with 4:30 left for the dagger.
Slovis connected with Malcolm Epps on a 41-yard TD strike and then hit Epps again for a two point conversion with 52 seconds left for the final score of the night.
London was the main target for Slovis with 16 catches for 162 yards and a touchdown. Gary Bryant Jr. had five receptions for 85 yards. The Trojans had only 92 yards rushing with Keontay Ingram running for 70 yards and Darwin Barlow 29 on six carries.
For Utah Rising completed 22 of 28 for 306 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. Thomas rushed for 113 yards on 16 attempts.
USC suffered its third loss at home this season as they fell to .500 on the year at 3-3 while Utah improved to 3-2.
The Trojans have a bye next week and then travel to South Bend, Indiana to face Notre Dame on October 23.
Clearly USC’s coaches and scouts have lost their way. They are listening to the hype of the Matt V’s and coach Maxie’s of socal. “This kid can outrun his shadow. He can catch a house fly in his chopsticks. He will hit you so hard you will think the game hasn’t started yet. Better sign this kid and don’t forget a little sumpin’ sumpin’ for moi.” These kids might be great but they practice their end zone TD routines and sack dances more than they do learning the playbook and hitting the weightroom. They will earn Oscars before they earn rings. They pay more to their hair dressers than to their trainers. The USC coaches line is like a Hollywood talent scout. ” Come to USC kid, I’ll make you a star”. What did Bruce Lee say “boards don’t hit back”.
This result is truly embarrassing, but it was executed with Clay Helton’s guys, and the better jocks wanted nothing to do with that coach. Speaking of coaching kryptonite, Chip Kelly’s expiration date has been exceeded, and we’re still waiting for the geniuses at UCLA to uncover this glaring fact.
Game was not as close as score indicates.